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Home My WebLink About2000-01-17 Historic District Board PacketHISTORIC DISTRICT BOARD January 17, 2000 - 7:00 p.m. *** AGENDA*** Kenai City Hall 1. 'ROLL CALL: 2. ELECTION OF CHAIR & VICE-CHAIR: 3. APPROVAL OF AGENDA: 4. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: October 19, 1999 5. PERSONS PRESENT SCHEDULED TO BE HEARD: 6. HISTORIC BOARD REVIEW: o NEW BUSINESS: a. Annual Survey b. Adoption of Goals - 2000 c. Old Towne Video- Discussion 8. OLD BUSINESS: e REPORTS: a. City Council b. Administration 10. PERSONS PRESENT NOT SCHEDULED TO BE HEARD: 11. BOARD QUESTIONS AND COMMENTS: 12. INFORMATION: a. Historic District Board Roster b. City Council Roster c. Letter of resignation from Dorothy Gray & Acceptance from Clerk Freas d. Reappointment letter to Ethel Clausen e. Letter from NAPC acknowledging membership f. Letter from AAHP acknowledging membership g. Memo from Clerk Freas regarding All-American City Award Committee h. National Park Service web site information i. Kenai Coastal Trail & Erosion Control Project- January 2000 13. ADJOURNMENT: HISTORIC DISTRICT BOARD October 19, 1999 - 7:00 p.m. *** AGENDA*** Kenai City Hall Chair Michael Huhndorf 1. ROLL CALL: 2. APPROVAL OF AGENDA: 3. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: January 18, 1999 4. PERSONS PRESENT SCHEDULED TO BE HEARD: 5. HISTORIC BOARD REVIEW: 6. NEW BUSINESS: 7. OLD BUSINESS: a. Committee Reports · Visitor Center Exhibit -- Old Town (Richard) · Battle of Kenai Research (Huhndorf) · Explore land acquisition for exhibit opportunities in Old Town (Kluge) · Research Heritage program and funding possibilities. (Clausen} · Old Town Video (Gray/Moore) · Walking Tour Exterior Sign (Huhndorf/Kebschull) b. Gold Rush Interpretive Sign REPORTS: a. City Council b. Administration 9. PERSONS PRESENT NOT SCHEDULED TO BE HEARD: 10. BOARD QUESTIONS AND COMMENTS: 11. INFORMATION: Kenai City Hall Telephone Extension List "The Alliance Review" - June/July 1999 "The Alaska Association for Historic Preservation" "Preservation Advocate News"- October 7, 1999 Letter of Resignation for Cecelia Richard - October 1999 12. ADJOURNMENT: HISTORIC DISTRICT BOARD OCTOBER 19, 1999 - 7:00 P.M. KENAI CITY HALL CHAIR MIKE HUHNDORF, PRESIDING Minutes ITEM 1' ROLL CALL Members Present: Dorothy Gray, Ethel Clausen, Bill Klu§e, Emily DeForest, Michael Huhndorf Also Present' Councilman Joe Moore, Contract Secretary Barb Roper ITEM 2: APPROVAL OF AGENDA Gray requested a discussion of board members' term expiration dates be added under New Business. Agenda was approved with the addition. ITEM 3' APPROVAL OF MINUTES -- January 18, 1999 No corrections and/or additions were noted and the Minutes of J.anuary 18, 1999 were approved as written. ITEM 4: PERSONS PRESENT SCHEDULED TO BE HEARD -- None ITEM 5: HISTORIC BOARD REVIEW-- None ITEM NEW BUSINESS Board Member Term Expirations Gray announced her term would be up in 2000 and she would not be seeking reappointment. Discussion took place on term expirations and it was asked if the 2000 term ended at the beginning of the year. Roper provided a list of term expiration dates and noted term expirations were at the end of the year. It was also noted that Kluge and DeForest's terms expire at the end of the year 1999. The terms for the remaining members would expire at the end of 2000. ITEM 7: OLD BUSINESS Committee Reports Visitor Center Exhibit - Old Town {Richard) - It was noted Cecelia Richard resigned from the Board, therefore, no report was made. Battle of Kenai Research (Huhndorf) - Huhndorf stated all his research and data collected was obtained from Alan Boraas. Boraas is preparin~ a booklet on the Battle of Kenai which should be published soon. Explore land acquisition for exhibit opportunities in Old Town (Kluge) - Klu§e reported he did some research on land availability in Old Town and thou§ht the old Refu§e buildin§ could be used to exhibit some lar§er items currently stored in the City maintenance yard. After a len§thy discussion, Moore was asked to find out who owned the buildin~ and to also approach the City Council and Mayor Williams to §et their thou§hts on the issue. Gray stated there were two cabins in Fort Kenay which were transferred to the Church. These buildings were originally included in the walking tour but the Church elected to close them due to high liability and insurance costs. She noted, the cabins were empty with the exception of some reconstructed benches which were used in the cabin used as a school house. Discussion took place on charging admission to offset some of the insurance costs should the cabins be used again as part of the walking tour or as exhibit buildings. Huhndorf asked how the admission revenue from the Visitor Center was channeled. Moore replied it stayed within the Visitor Center. Research Heritage program and funding possibilities {Clausen}- No report. Old Town Video (Gray/Moore)- Gray su§§ested a contest sponsored by the City of Kenai be developed with some incentives in an effort to motivate students in making a video of Old Town Kenai. Huhndorf noted a lot of material was already available which the students could utilize. Gray thought the students should do their own research to really learn about Old Town Kenai. Gray su§§ested a $500 - $1,000 cash prize could be awarded. Moore was asked to brin§ the idea to the next City Council meeting and if the City approves it, he could then bring the matter back to the next HDB meeting scheduled for January. Gray noted the timin~ would be best in January as students would be just getting back to school after Christmas break. Gray would announce the contest utilizing the school district e-mail system and all schools within the Borough would be invited to participate. Huhndorf asked what would be done with the videos that did not win. Gray suggested they could be viewed on a rotation basis at the Visitor Center during the summer. Walking Tour Exterior Sign {Huhndorf/Kebschull} - Huhndorf reported nothing was done with regard to the walking tour exterior sign. HISTORIC DISTRICT BOARD MEETING OCTOBER 19, 1999 PAGE 2 He added, Kathy Tarr and Marilyn Kebschull would continue to work on the sign. ITEM 8: REPORTS City Council- Moore announced that Pat Porter and Bill Frazer were elected to the City Council. Moore noted he would be accompanying Mayor Williams and Councilman Bookey to Anchorage for a meeting with the Anchorage Visitors and Convention Bureau. Discussion would be on a center in Kenai. A lengthy discussion took place on the FAA lands. Moore noted the property would be surveyed to assure the boundaries. Moore also noted no soils testing was done to date and no transfers would be made until that is accomplished and any cleanup is done by the FAA. 8-b. Administration- No report. ITEM 9: PERSONS PRESENT NOT SCHEDULED TO BE HEARD -- None ITEM 10: BOARD QUESTIONS AND COMMENTS Chairman Huhndorf stated he took two ladies on the walking tour and they both suggested to the Visitors Center that he make a tape. Huhndorf added, he had not heard anything more on the issue. Emily DeForest stated Judy Bittner asked if there were any more funds for signs. Gray reported the sign project was completed a couple years ago and there was no additional funding. Moore reported the walking tour signs had been taken down and stored at the police station for the winter. Dorothy Gray requested Administration send Roger Meeks a sympathy card for the loss of his wife Francis. Gray noted the Meeks' were instrumental in getting Old Town Kenai its start. Roper was asked to pass the request on to Kebschull. Gray reported the Russian Rectory restoration project was completed to every detail and it was very beautiful. Gray stated she would arrange a tour during the summer HDB meeting but in the meantime would share her photo journal of the project. ITEM 11: INFORMATION 11-a. 11-b. 11-c. 11-d. Kenai City Hall Telephone Extension List "The Alliance Review" - June/July 1999 "The Alaska Association for Historic Preservation" - October 1999 "Preservation Advocate News" - October 7, 1999 HISTORIC DISTRICT BOARD MEETING OCTOBER 19, 1999 PAGE 3 11-e. Letter of Resignation for Cecelia Richard ITEM 12: ADJOURNMENT Gray MOVED to adjourn. Motion SECONDED by DeForest. Meeting adjourned at 7:50 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Barbara L. Roper, Contract Secretary HISTORIC DISTRICT BOARD MEETING OCTOBER 19, 1999 PAGE 4 ma' ~ ~' ~~ o ~ 0 ~ i, 0 X 0 0 0 X 0 _. _. · 0 0 --... · e.~ · · ,-,.~. ~ ~ ~ :2 "' -, ..,. -. o (1) ~ ~ ~ --' ~ ~ ' --' ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~' 8 ~ o = ~ o_. ~ ~ ~ o · o m ~ ~ -' x ~ ~ ~ ~.~ ~ o m o ~ o ~- ~ ~ m ~ --' --. ' 0 . ~ = ~ ~ ~ ~ o : ~ ~ = o · - 0 ~ ~ ~ 0 --. 0 _.~ o ~ ~ ~ _. _ 8 ~ ~x ~ ~ 0 ~ 8 K~ = =.= = -. = o ~ --. ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ --' --' · ~ --' 0 ~' 0 m ~ ' o ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ o E. ~.m ~ ~~m ~ 0 ' ~ ~ ~ ~ 0 --. ~ ~ ~ ~ o ~~ ~ o ~'= o --' _. ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ o ~ ~ ~ o ~ ~ o ~~ o o --. ~ ~ --. --, ~ ~ ~ 0 ~ ~ 0 o ~2 ~ ~ m o o -. m m o ~ 0 ~ o m m o ~ ~~ ~ ~ o o ~ ~ ~ 0 0 ~ 0 ~ 0 0 ~ --. 0 ' 0 ~ ~ a m ~ 8 ~ o -' ~ o ~ 0 ~ -' v 0 ~ 0 ~ 0 ~ ~' ~, 0 ~ 0 0 ~ --' ~ ~ ~ 0 ~ ~ 0 --' 0 -.= ~ o m ~' - m ~ _o ~ ~ 0 --, ~ HISTORIC DISTRICT BOARD Meets Third Monday of Each Month 7:00 p.m. Kenai Council Chambers 2003 Kenai, AK 99611 283-(home) 283-(work) 2003 Ethel Clausen P.O. Box 2815 Kenai, AK 9611 283-9094 (home) 262-5801 (work) 2003 Mike Huhndorf P.O. Box 7643 Nikiski, AK 99635 776-5236 (home) 2001 Bill Kluge P.O. Box 364 Kenai, AK 99611 283-4578 (home) 283-3698 (work) 2002 Emily DeForest P.O. Box 1326 Kenai, AK 99611 Kenai, AK 99611 283-4780 283-(home) (work) 2002 2003 Ad Hoc: Councilman Joe Moore Contract Secretary: Barbara Roper P.O. Box 4234 Soldotna, AK 99669 (262-6577) (12/15/99) KENAI CITY COUNCIL Meeting First and Third Wednesday at 7:00 p.m. TERM ENDS John J. Williams, Mayor City of Kenai P.O. Box 459 Kenai, AK 99611 Telephone: 283~4960 (h) 283-3104 (w) 2001 James C. Bookey, III, Council Member City of Kenai P.O. Box 326 Kenai, AK 99611 Telephone: 283-4227 (home and business) 2001 Joe Moore, Council Member City of Kenai 1006 Inlet Woods Kenai, AK 99611 Telephone: 283-4610 (h) 283-3434 (w) 2001 William R. Frazer, Council Member City of Kenai 1002 Crow Court Kenai, AK 99611 Telephone: 283-4861 (h) 283-5116 (w) 2000 Pat Porter, Council Member City of Kenai 116 Deepwood Court Kenai, AK 99611 Telephone: 283-4348 (h) 2000 Duane Bannock, Council Member City of Kenai 1105 First Street Kenai, AK 99611 Telephone: 283-3158 (h) 283-3949 (w) 2002 Linda Swarner, Council Member City of Kenai 298 Rogers Road Kenai, AK 99611 Telephone: 283-4366 (h) 283-9649 (w) 2002 Or mail items to the council member at City Hall: City of Kenai 210 Fidalgo Avenue, Suite 200 Kenai, AK 99611-7794 Telephone: 283-7539 Fax: 283-3014 email: cfreas(~ci, kenai, ak.u s (10/26/99) DOROTHY Vm City of K enai Historic District Board 210 Fidalgo Street, Suite 200 Kenai, Alaska 99611 Dear Board Members, GRAY 193 Trumpeter Avenue $oldotna, Alaska 99669 December 3, 1999 It has been a great pleasure to have served ~vith you on the Historic District Board during my tenure. Nearly ten years ago, a need gave birth to our work, and since thru: time we have been able to not only establish the Townsite Historic Zone, but also institute a Preservation Plan for the Ci~7 of Kenai, both of which never existed prior to tha~ point. In addition, many other permanent projects, including state grants, have been created such as the recent addition of ~e Old Town Walking Tour and its accompanying signage in partnership with the Rotary Club. I can truly say that our work together has established a plan that is secure and will remain, despite the turnover on the board. Therefore, it is with great pride that my term on the board has ended. I wish you all continued success in your future endeavors with historic preservation, and if I can ever be of an7 further consultm:ion, please feel free to contact me. With best wishes for the holiday season, D oro thy Gray cc Carol L. Freas, City Clerk December 16, 1999 CITY OF KENAi 210 FIDALGO AVE., SUITE 200 KENAI, ALASKA 99611-7794 TELEPHONE 907-283-7535 FAX 907-283-3014 ~ 1992 Dorothy Gray 193 Trumpeter Avenue Soldotna, AK 99669 RE: HIS TORIC DIS TRIC T BOARD City of Kenai At their regular meeting of December 15, 1999, the Kenai City Council regretfully accepted your resignation from the Historic District Board. Upon your departure from the Board, the Kenai City Council and City Administration thanks you. The time and effort you contributed to the City during your term on the Board is an example of a dedicated citizen working for a better tomorrow for the City of Kenai. We truly appreciate your help and hard work! CITY OF KENAI ~ar~it~ Clerk clf CITY OF KENAi 210 FIDALGO AVE., SUITE 200 KENAI, ALASKA 99611-7794 TELEPHONE 907-283-7535 FAX 907-283-3014 t~-~t-~ 1992 December 16, 1999 Ethel Clausen P.O. Box 2815 Kenai, AK 9961 1 RE' REAPPOINTMENTS- COMMISSIONS/CO~~EES~O~DS City of Kenai At their regular meeting of December 15, 1999, the Kenai City Council confirmed your reappointment to the Historic District Board for an additional three-year term, ending in Janua~, 2003. The Kenai City Council and City Administration thank you for the time and effort you have contributed and willingness to continue to contribute to the City. Your interest and endeavors are examples of a dedicated citizen working for a better tomorrow for the City of Kenai. Congratulations and again, thank you. Sincerely, CITY OF KENAI arityClerk clf December 7, 1999 NATIONAL ALLIANCE 0fPRESERVATION COMMISSIONS P O BOX 1605 · ATHENS, GEORGIA 30603 ° (706) 542-4731 Kenai Historic District Board City of Kenai 210 Fidalgo Avenue Suite 200 Kenai, AK 99611-7794 I999 Dear Member, Recently, we received either your first-time application or your renewal for membership with the National Alliance of Preservation Commissions. On behalf of the NAPC, I would like to take a moment to say thank you and let you know how much we appreciate your support. The involvement of every member, whether a commission, an individual, an organization or an agency, is vital to the success of our organization and its ability to best serve the preservation community. In the coming year we look forward to bringing you helpful reformation and "news you can use" through The ~4//iance Review. We are planning statewide assistance teams for improving the work of local review commissions, special pColications, and cooperative education projects with the National Park Service, the National Trust for Historic Preservation, and the National Conference of State Historic Preservation Officers. We hope you will be in touch with us to let us know what is happening in your community and to tell us what we can do to assist you in your preservation efforts. Again, our sincere thanks, and welcome to the National Alliance! Sincerely, Jacqueime Reneii Membership Coordinator December 11, 1999 City of Keani Planning Dept 210 Fidalgo, #200 Kenai, AK 99611-7794 Thank you very much for renewing your Non-Profit ($25) membership in the Alaska ^~sociation for Historic Presentation (/~HP). Through your membership, you continue to play an important part in our program to help pmsente key element~ of Alaska's built environment through education, promotion and advocacy. Your 2000 AAHP membership card is enclosed. 1999 was another successful year for AAHP and we are looking forward to expanding our activities in 2000. Our paid membemhip continues to grow. We plan to continue to publish our quarterly newsletter that highlights preservation effort~ around the stat~. We also hope to increase our commitment to assisting in the restoration of Alaska's endangered .historic properties. Membership dues such as yours are the major source of financial support for AAHP in its preservation efforts. Again, many thanks for your generosity in supporting the presentation of Alaska's built heritage. Sincerely, Russell H. Sackett Executive Director Enclosure: 2000 Membership Card 200 W. 34th Avenue, #1184 · Anchorage, Alaska 99503 CITY OF KENAI 210 FIDALGO AVE., SUITE 200 ALASKA 99611-7794 TELEPHON FAX 90' ~ MEMORANDUM TO' FROM' DATE' RE' Boards, Commission and Committee Members City of Kenai Carol L. Freas, City Clerk City of Kenai November 23, 1999 ALL-AMEI~CA CITY AWARD COMMITTEE At their regular meeting of November 17, 1999, the Kenai City Council approved the formation of a committee to develop and submit an application for the All-America City Award 2000. The application is due the beginning of March, 2000 so there is some intensity in developing the information for the application. If you are interested or know of someone who would be, please contact me (283-8231), Mayor Williams or a council member. II II www ?, ct. nps. gov/tps/care The 'Good. Guides' For over 25 years, Technical Preservation Services (TPS) has helped home owners, preservation professionals, organizations, and government agencies by publishing easy-to-read guidance on preserving, rehabilitating and restoring historic buildings. Now, TPS announces a NEW WEB SITE devoted to all aspects of caring for historic buildings--from choosing an appropriate treatment to actually "doing" the work in a way that meets historic preservation standards.' Use the Standards and Guidelines, read the classic Preservation Briefs, take interactive web classes, such as Electronic Rehab and The Walk Through, and enjoy other new products, such as The Boilerplate YESs and Nos! The good news is we'll expand the site to meet your needs...so let us hear from you! Coming, Fall 1999. National Park Service Heritage Preservation Services 1849 C Street, NW, NC200 Washington, DC 20240 U.S. POSTAGE ATHENS, GA PERMIT No. i65 SCHOOL OF ENVIRONMENTAL DESIGh THE UNiVERSiTY OF GEORGIA ATHENS GEORGIA 30602 Cily of 210 FIDN.G0 AVE STE 200 KEN/~ AK 99611-7750 JANUARY 2000 200 West 34th Avenue #1184, Anchorage, Alaska 99503 VOL. 19~ ISSUE 1 ANNUAL MEETING TO BE HELD IN ANCHORAGE ON JANUARY 29th · Come one, come all to our annual meeting! After visiting historical sites in Wasilla and Palmer in recent years, our organization will be holding its annual meeting in Anchorage. The festivities will take place on Saturday, January 29th, beginning at 1:00 p.m.; the meeting will be held at the Anchorage Museum of History and Art, located at the comer of 7th and A Streets in downtown Anchorage. '- - A highlight of this year's meeting will be a specially catered free lunch, served by the Marx Brothers. (So who says there's no flee lunch?) Food, however, will be available only to the first thirty AAHP members who show ... up, so don't be late to this event. In addition to presentations by various board members outlining AAI-IP's progress during the past year, several outside speakers will be featured. Janet Clemens, a National Park Service historian, will provide highlights of a recently completed history of Katmai National Park, and Andrew Patrick will bring us up to date on the history of a nationally significant naval base located just outside Kodiak. The final program, still in its 'formatiVe . stages, may spotlight other speakers as well. ' "-~ ..... . : We're looking forward to seeing you there! ........ " · .. '- ..~. . : .. ~ MARCI-~S INTO THE FUTIJRE- AN UPDA~ ON THE STATEWIDES INITIATIVE As we reported to you last April, the National Trust for Historic Preservation accepted our organization's application to the Statewides Initiative progrmn. Since then, our Board of Directors has been hard at work taking steps toward becoming fully involved with the progrmn, and in recent actions, board members have accepted the terms of a "joint expectations agreement" which outlines the actions that both AAI-IP and NTHP promise to take in pursuit of becoming a larger, more active organization. ' .... ~ ...... AAI-IP, as many of you know, was formed in 1981, and ever since that time it has been Alaska's only stat~de preservation organization. Through most of our organization's history, we have been small, poorly funded, and centered around Anchorage. But in the last three or four years, we have taken great strides toward becoming a better-funded, truly stateWid¢ organization. Today, our finances are in better shape than they have ever we carry on programs (such as the Ten Endangered Properties Program and the Preservation Grant Program) . . that were unknown just a few years ago; and we now teleconference our'meetings s° that memb~ around the state can be just as vitally involved as those in Anchorage and vicinity. But we still have no paid staff0r other programs common to preservation programs in many other states. We think that we can do better, and the National Trust's Statewidcs Initiative progrmn can help by providing both technical and financial assistance. This program will be a major focus of activity by our organization during the next several months, lf YOU would like to share in the excitement and help our organization grow in the furore, please attend our annual meeting and consider joining AAHP's board of directors. We look forward to hearing from you! OLD KNIK TOWNSITE EXCAVATIONS 1998- 1999 by Fran Seager-Boss The Matanuska-Susima Borough's Cultural Resources Division has received a number of grants to conduct test excavations at the former Gold Rush townsite of Knik, located at Mile 13.5 off Knik-Goose Bay road. (Knik was a gateway to the Susitna Valley and the Alaska Interior between the 1890s and Wodd War I.) Work has been carded out at the site for the last two summers, and it is anticipated that work will continue in the summer of 2000. The excavations have been very productive and in some instances have supplied field crews with mOre questions than answers. Excavation crews working in and around the old townsite have been comprised of local volunteers, in addition to anthropology instructors and students from the Anchorage and Mat-Su campuses of the University of Anchorage. In 1998, excavations encompassed a portion of the site identified by Stanley Heming (a former Knik resident) as an area occupied by bachelor miners and by families. Our testing revealed numerous artifacts attributable to single miners. Excavations included the remains of a house that had burned to the ground. In its cellar (or perhaps in its crawl space), a collapsed shelf full of cans and bottles was found. A number of cans had fallen and exploded onto the earthen floor. Among the rested can goods, several tobacco cans and medicine bottles were recovered. The bottles dated to the gold rash era. A large can with a wire handle still had some of its original label; the can contained cooking fat, a blend of beef fat and cottonseed oil manufactured by "JEWEL." The fat was certified by "Congress June 30, 1900." A diagram made by the on-site archeologists shows that the collapsed shelf was broken either by the calved-in floor above or from roof timbers. A large crate or kitchen counter was located having at one time supported a group of nesting pans and numerous canned goods. All but the last three or four inches of this crate or counter was burned, located approximately 3 feet below surface (see photo). Other areas of the site included several randomly arranged, shallow depressions which may indicate the former locations of small cabins or walled tent sites. Although these depressions yielded little information, the adjacent middens (or garbage dumps) proved rich in informa- tion, revealing that the occupants used very utilitarian ware. (Archaeologists generally get most of their information on former occupants of a site from their middens and butchering areas.) No fine china and very little crockery was unearthed. Most of the goods included enamelware pots, pans, bowls and utensils. Liquor and non-alcoholic bottles, tobacco products and medicine bottles were numerous. Medicinal ' bottles, both whole and in fragments, Archeologists study evidence from the OM Knik site west of Wasilla. included five bottles of"Halls Catarrh Cure;" "Three in One Oil Cure;" .... "Listerine;" "Lambert Pharmacal Company;" "Schloss Export;'""Acivita;" "The German Doctor;" "J. A. Bauchaman MD, Seward Alaska;" and Davis Painkiller." Other health related items and indulgences included six toothbrushes (there were two dentists in town), two Colgate shaving sticks, "Ingrains Milkweed Cream" and "Pompeian Massage Cream." Apart fi'om bottles and jars associated with food products, numerous nails, wire, and barrel hoops were located. Of particular interest was the recovery of parts of seventeen crucibles and several cuplets, equipment that a gold assayer would most appropriately use. In 1999, excavations encompassed a separate area, one that was probably used by native Dena'ina residents. The 1998 site location was also revisited for fimher testing. No report has yet emerged from the 1999 test excavations; stay tuned for details of last season's work. MAJOR INCREASE in Alaska Preservation Funding Possible- IF YOU CAN HELP!!! We preservationists have a major oppommity~IF WE ACT in the next few weeks---to have Congress provide a huge funding increase for historic preservation activities. All we ask is that you CONTACT SENATORS MURKOWSKI AND STEVENS and urge their support for preservation funding. Here are the details. For many years, Federal historic preservation funding (along with the land purchases financed through the Land and Water Conservation Fund) were financed by Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) leasing revenues. That funding source, however, recently expired, and preservation funding has thus suffered. But last November, Alaska Representative Don Young (chaff of the House Resources Committee) worked out a landmark agreement with Rep. George Miller (minority head of the same committee) that would, in effect, re- attach historic funding (to the. rune of $150 million annually) to the OCS revenues. That agreement is included House bill H.R. 701, and we offer many thanks to Congressman Young for his courageous stand on this issue. In the Senate, however, the picture is less than rosy. The current bill, S. 25, does not link preservation funding to OCS revenues, and both Sen. Frank Murkowski and Sen. Ted Stevens have frankly stated that getting historic preservation funding in the final Senate bill will be an uphill battle. Support from Alaskan preservationists~ small though our numbers may be~is particularly crucial to the success of the entire bffi became Sen. Murkowski chairs the Senate Resources Committee (where the bill is being considered) and Sen. Stevens chairs the all-important Senate Appropriations Committee. Both of our senators need to hear from ALL Alaska preservafionists--via letters, telephone calls, or emails---that S. 25 should be amended to include $1~0 annually in historic preservation funding. Our senators can be contacted in the following ways: Senator Frank Murkowski 322 Hart Senate Office Building Washington, DC 20510 (202) 224-6665 fax (202) 224-5301 email: Senator_Murkowski~murkowski. senate.gov Senator Ted. Stevens 522 Hart Senate Office Building .Washington, DC 20510 . (202) 224-3004 fax (202) 224-2354 -~ ~ Senator Stevens~Stevens.senate.g°v JOIN US AND PRESER I"E AL,dSK,,I 'S HISTOR y.t Membership runs from January 1 through December 31. Benefits include... * the quarterly AAHP newsletter * workshops and seminars Student ........................ $10 Individual ..................... $15 Family ................. ". ...... $25 Non-Profit ..................... $25 , ~ ..... : . : .: -,, : . . · . . * annual meeting * historic preservation advocacy Contributor ........................ $50 Friend .............................. $100 · __ Sponsor ............................ $250 .-Benefactor ......................... $500 · Donations to AAHP are tax deductible as allowed under IRS regulations. ffyou have one, what is your email address? I/we would also like to make a tax-deductible gift of $ to the AAI-IP Top Ten Most Endangered Buildings preservation matching grant account. - Check enclosed for $ . WE THANK YOU! Please remm to: The Alaska Association for Historic Preservation, 645 West Third Ave., Anchorage, Alaska 99501-2124 . SPOTLIGHTING ALASKA'S LONGEST BRIDGE by Matthew Reckard Alaska's longest bridge span is the Tanana River railroad crossing at Nenana. Built in 1922-23 and now known as the Mears Memorial Bridge, it is surely one of Alaska's most underappre¢iated historical resources. Like Rodney Dangerfield, it gets no respect. Although it deserves to be a National Historical Landmark, it isn't even listed on the Alaska Heritage Resources Survey list. Happily, it still serves its original purpose well and should be with us for years to come. The bridge's namesake, Frederick Mears, was chairman and chief engineer of the Alaska Engineering Commission, the railroad's builder and original operator. Construction of a mil line by a federal agency (the AEC) is rare in American history. Public ownership, however, was demanded became private railroad construction efforts had failed; in addition, it was a response to early 20th century Americans' distrust of monopolistic industrial trusts in general, and Alaskans' fear of the Guggenheim-led "Alaska Syndicate" in particular. The railroad played key roles in reviving Interior mining in the 1920s, in Alaska's World War H efforts, and in construction of the Tram-Alaska Oil Pipeline. Today, the overwhelming majority of Alaskans live along the Railbelt. The Mears Bridge was the final and crowning link in the railroad. The first train rambled across the bridge in February 1923, a year after the rest of the 470-mile line was finished. The AEC designed and built nearly the entire railroad with its own forces, but not the Tanana River crossing. Instead, they hired the Chicago firm of Modjeski and Angier to design the bridge, and the American Bridge Co. (the world's foremost bridge builders) to construct the span. The 700-foot long Pennsylvania through tress is said to have been the longest tress span in the U.S. when it was completed. It is still the third longest simple tress in North America and the longest span of any kind in Alaska. (The second longest Alaska span, 620 feet long, is the main span of the Gastineau Channel Bridge between juneau and Douglas.) ... President Warren G. Harding came to Alaska in July 1923, and as part of that trip he drove the ceremonial golden spike at the bridge's north end. With him were three members of his cabinet (including Secretary of Commerce Herbert Hoover) and the Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives. It was one of Harding's last public appearances, because he died just two weeks later on his way back to Washington. Visit this remarkable bridge when you get the chance. There's a good view of it from the highway bridge at Nenana, but from that vantage point there's little to lend scale to what you see. To really appreciate it, go through town and follow the riverbank upstream. You can easily drive a car up to the bridge's south pier. You won't regret it! .. ' PRESERVATION TIDBITS- BRIEF BUT IMPORTANT! Please note that AAI-IP's address has CHANGED. The new address is 200 West 34th Avenue #1184, Anchorage, Alaska 99503. Please use this address for membership renewals and for all correspondence. AAI-IP president Julie Johnson, who has been employed as the executive director of Anchorage Historic Properties, Inc. since 1993, has resigned her position and is now a historical consultant working for the.National Park"--:serv~ce. _ ~ ...... ..~.~ ....... · ...~ ·., ......... .~.~.,.~ · . · Good news! Alaska preservationists gained a major victory in last fall's Congressional funding package when Senate and House bills agreed to fund a full-scale ($1.5 million) renovation of Sitlm's Allen Auditorium, the 1911-era structure that is the centerpiece of the Sheldon Jackson COllege campus. Many thanks should be extended to Alaska's Congressional delegation and to aH of those,-both in Sitka and elsewhere in Alaska, who fought to save this important historical structure. _ ......... . .......... ~ ~ .... ..'_..' · · ST. GEORGE SEALING PLANT RESTORATION COMPLETED The restoration of the St. George Island Sealing Plant, located on the smaller of the two major Pribilof Islands, was completed ahead of schedule and under budget. Restoration of the building began in September 1998 through funding provided by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the agency that owns the property. The St. George Tanaq Corporation performed the work, and local labor was utilized throughout the restoration process. The restoration consisted of repairing or replacing foundations; reconstructing various window sashes to match the originals; an electrolysis treatment of the concrete floor in order to remove harmful chloride from the concrete; removal of harmful lead paint, followed by repainting the building; drilling out deteriorated reinforcing and patching; installing an all-new electrical system; and installing a new wood shingle roof. Back in 1995, AAHP included the sealing plant on its Ten Most Endangered Historic Properties list. Our September 1998 newsletter contains additional information about the plant. .. .. -.;...2:': '.7:':!;:":.:,::: The St. George Sealing Plant as it looked before restoration commenced (left) and after it was completed (righO. AAHP BOARD OF DIRECTORS, 2000 Executive Director- Russ Sacker President- Julie Johnson Vice-President- Scan Boily Treasurer- Steve Peterson Secretary- Fran Seager-Boss Editor- Frank Norris Other Board Members: Chuck Hawley, Bill Coghill, Darrel Lewis, Grace Pleasants, Torgeir Robertson, and Matthew Reckard. Membership News ... A membership renewal letter was mailed to all of you last November, and since then we have been gratified to receive more than 150 responses. THANK YOU! Membership remains our largest single source of revenue. We encourage all of you who do not have a "00" after your name on the label to either join or renew for calendar'Year 2000. ' .... ' .~ . News from Alaska's Great Interior ... The most recent (November 1999) issue of the Tanana-Yukon Historical Society newsletter notes that the David R. Maddocks House (1904), which has been deeded to the Fairbanks Historic Preservation Commission, is threatened with condemnation by the City of Fairbanks. The society notes that "it is one of the most important remaining samPles of early Fairbanks" and is vowing to fight its demolitiOn. "' ..... ' '" ~ · · . The fate of another early Fairbanks building, unfommately, has already been decided. In October, a cabin located on 7th Avenue near CUShing Street was lost to the demolition crews. The'cabin, built in 1906 and '- occupied by Edward'and Made Clark for manY years, was razed in order to allow additional parking to a nearby church. The society pOignantly notes that "quaint cabin structures, our visual reminders of historical Fairbanks, will disappear one bY one without concerted effort to find a place for them in the modernization of Fairbanks." reservationists throughout our state might well pay heed to this same message. As songwriter Joni Mitchell noted so poignantly in 1969, "Don't it always seem to go that you don't know what you've got till it's gone?" BLAZE PLUNDERS CHISTOCHINA LODGE by Don Hunter excerpted from the .4nchorage Daily News, November 10, 1999 The Chistochina Lodge, one of a fading chain of roadhouses that linked Alaska when prospectors trekked the backcountry by horse and sled dog and on foot, burned to the ground early yesterday momi_ng. . . Michael Orazio, the volunteer fire chief in the Copper River community, said smoke alarms went off shortly after lodge owner Holly Clark closed about midnight and retired to her adjoining living quarters. "When she stepped out of her quarters, it was already filled with smoke, so it took off pretty quick," said Orazio, who speculated faulty wiring may have started the blaze. Clark ran to a neighbor's house and called for help. About 10 to 15 firefighters fought the blaze with chemical extinguishers and, for a time, a garden hose hooked to the lodge's water supply. "We thought we had it knocked down," said Emie Charley, another firefighter, but it got in the ceiling and took off fight after that. There was no stopping it then." The building dated to the early years of the century. The initial structure probably was built sometime between 1903 and 1915, and was added to and moved at least once as decades passed, according to several historical records. GeoffBleakley, a National Park Service historian, said the Chistochina Lodge and a number of others built to provide lodging for prospectors and travelers in old Alaskas are losing om to winter fires every year. The Chistochina was named to the National Register of Historic Places in 1997. "They were established a day's travel apart, originally on the Valdez-Eagle trail, and later on the Valdez-Fairbanks trail," Blealdey said. "Most of the traffic was on foot, or was with homes pulling sleds. There wasn't a lot of dog traffic early on.,- So they established these roadhouses, and they became sort of the nuclei around which communities have developed.''~ Chistochina is on the section of the Glenn Highway known as the Tok Cutoff. Aborn 50 people live there year round. Orazio said most of them mined out to help Tuesday night, with about 10 or 12 people involved in the firefighfing. Their efforts were hampered became the Chistochina fire department doesn't have much equipment. "Up here, you're pretty much helpless if you get a fire in the winter," Charley said. Orazio said the Chistochina firefighters managed to buy a firetmck about a year and a half ago but hasn't been able to raise enough money to built a fire house to keep it in. That means the track is useless' when the temperature drop well below zero, as they do in Chistochina pretty much all winter long. Last night, it was'10 to 15 below. The closest department with a truck in a heated garage is Glennallen, about 50 miles away. "Bay the time the time they got here, the truck would have been frozen anyway," he said. Without a firetmck, firefighters used hand-held extinguishers and a couple of large extinguishers mounted on dollies to try to contrbl the lodge fire, Orazio said. "Last night, I had a couple of hoses here at the hOuse and we were able to use W~ier from the lodge as long as we could, but it just wasn't enough," he said. "If we'd had a fire hall and truck, I know we could have saved it." - . Alaska state'Troopers decided the building was tOo ~ar gone to save around 2:30 a.m.," orazio said.-The ro--ot:~:: fell in about 4 a.m. Troopers said a cash box and office files were saved, but little else. Damage was'~6~fimat~d at $350,000. Clark and her husband, Rick, have Owned the lodge for about a year, Orazio said. He was in .......... Anchorage when the fire occurred and returned shortly after the fire. -~.~,,~ ..... ~., ..... .~ ~a'.; Orazio said the loss of'the lo~ige'~Will'~e a blOW to'the community.' ,,Befor~ we'~ad S~tellite dishe~and what have you, that was the popular place for pc°pie to ..... meet and Watch mo(i-es. It Was a place for kidsto go." 'I~:~ a pretty big impact on the community all through the.years," The log building had grown over the years'io include aa Upstairs bunkhouse with 15 or.l 6 beds, as well as six or seven rooms for rent,.Orazio 'said. "When you walked into the odge, there was a dining area, a kitchen, and then a ~ar with a Po°l iable and a larg~:~men TV," he said. "There's nothing left. It burned every log." ....... - ....................... REB~TH OF A RECTORY by Dorothy Gray Several years ago on a visit to the Kenai Peninsula, Father Joseph Kreda, Chancellor of the Alaska Diocese for the Russian Orthodox Church, beheld the priest's house and the "rectory" sign over its door. "That should be spelled W-R-E-C-K-T-O-R-Y," he quipped, noticing the stained, chipped shingles, the homely metal roof, and windows just a foot off the ground doe the house's sinking foundation. . ~. Who would have guessed that in 1996, this building~ considered to be the oldest on the Kcnai Peninsula--- would receive a $200,000 restoration grant in federal preservation funds? That's exactly what happened as a result of the encouragement the restoration committee received from Alaska's U.S. Senator Ted Stevens, who appealed to the government for help before this histOric building would be beyond reclamation. . _., Constructed in 1881, Kenai's Russian Rectory was one of four new rectories contracted by Bishop Nestor with the Alaska Commercial Company. Architects Mooser and Pissis of San Francisco drew up the plans. Of the four rectories, only the Kenai Rectory and the Bishop's House at Unalaska are still stand!ri, g today. A sketch of what the Kenai RectOry loOked like "~ prior to its restoration. · . ,. The original house consisted of a two-story Center section with tw° one-and-a-half story wings,' built like all log cabins in those days on a dirt floor. Even though a cement floor was added several decades later, the years had taken their toll by the early 1990s, and this building---which had been home to all the Russian Orthodox priests of the Holy Assumption of the Virgin Mary Church since that time--was slowly sinking. Hand_hewn redwood logs, joined with.square-notch comers, were covered on the exterior by wood shingle siding. Old Russian newspapers and moss chinking were still sticking out in between the exposed logs on both the inside and outside for added insulation. Another view of the Kenai Rectory, taken in the summer of 1999, shortly after restoration was completed Thanks to a professional study prepared by National Park Service historical architects Steve Peterson, Katerina Solovjova, and Mary Tidlow in Anchor- age, the dream to recapture the historical integrity of this property began with an extremely thorough condition assessment report which provided the details for the contractor in charge, George Nyce of Kenai. After a careful study by the Alaska Office of History and Archeology, the house was elevated and hydraulically moved so that a new permanent foundation could be laid in place during the summer of 1998. Local log smiths cut and hewed three new logs to replace the rotted ones before the house was replaced on its new foundation. This time, however, rebar pegs replaced the original wooden ones used. The rectory restoration committee completely stripped the interior, peeling off as many as ten layers of Rebirth of a Rectory (continued) - wallpaper to expose the beautiful hand-hewn logs. ~.~..,' framing, six-pane windows, sheetrock, electrical wiring, plumbing, and heating were installed, making the house look much more like a home. Mary Tidlow stripped the wallpapers down to their original layer and was able to find very similar reproductions of both color and patterns that reflected the 1880s. Carpeting and flooring in neutral tones complemented the wall coverings, and a brand new hardwood floor was laid in the foyer to retain as much of the historical period as possible. Like most building projects, the rectory restoration needed additional financial assistance. Thanks to many individuals and organizations such as the Tanaina Corporation, CI~, SalamatoffNative Corporation, TCsoro, Unocal, and our sister parish in Ninilchik, more than $60,000 was donated to complete this worthy endeavor. The metal sheeting off the roof Was removed and a brand new shake shingle roof painted its original red Color was installed. Of historical note: red was the cheapest paint one could buy in the 1800s, thus the reason many houses, barns, and schools were red. The exterior shingles recaptured the original blue trim color, too. The rectory was able to pass into its final phase of completion, and on March 21, 1999, Father Michael Trefon and' his family were able to move into their home, again one of the most substantial residences in Old Town Kenai. During the summer 0i"i 999, through the generosity of many' many individuals over the course of three years, the rectory restoration project came to completion with landscaping and flowerbcds. The rebirth of the rectory has had a significant impact upon the preservation of not only the National Historic Landmark, but als°' aport the home of Kenai's Russian Orthodox people for more than a hundred years. Dorothy Gray is an educator and former chair of the Kenai Historic District Board, and ~he recently ~erved the project coordinator of the rectory restoration of the National Historic Landmark in Kenai. . THE ALASKA ASSOCIATION FOR HISTORIC PRESERVATION 200 West 34th Avenue #1184 Anchorage, Alaslm 99503 N~nt Org. ,U.8. Postage PAID Permit No. 587 'TCITY OF KENAI O0 ~..~:,~..PLANNING DEPT ¥~':210 FIDALGO, $200 · ~..,..!!?KENAI AK'99611-779 -. ~..;.... "' lld,d,l,,,ll,,,,,ll,,,ll-h,,ll',.,I, I,l,ll,,,,,,I.111,,,,I,,ll